Dimora asks judge to move trial out of Akron

CLEVELAND -- Former Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora has asked to move his public corruption trial out of Akron.

Dimora and his attorneys have filed a change of venue motion, asking that the trial be moved from Akron.

U.S. Attorney's office spokesman Michael Tobin did confirm that, despite several recent hearings being held in federal court in Cleveland, the trial itself is scheduled to be held in Akron.

Dimora's trial is scheduled to get underway in U.S. District Court Judge Sara Lioi's courtroom in Akron in January. Jury selection is scheduled for Jan. 4-6, with opening statements scheduled for Jan. 9.

Dimora, 56, has been charged with more than 30 criminal counts, including a racketeering charge that claims he ran a criminal enterprise. Dimora was arrested at 7 a.m. Sept. 15, 2010, and pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Nearly all of the motions in Dimora's case have been filed under seal so no details are available.

What is reflected in court records are exhibits that Dimora's attorneys used to substantiate their venue request, articles from The Plain Dealer, all four Cleveland TV stations, amd other research articles.

Dimora had been scheduled to start trial next Monday but he and his co-defendant Michael Gabor got a continuance.